25 Asia-Pacific cities establish Zero Waste model

The Zero Waste model has been established in 25 cities across Asia and the Pacific region, according to a release by Global Alliance for Incineration Alternative (GAIA).

A similar model was implemented in the Lalmatia area of the Bangladeshi capital. As a partner organisation of GAIA, Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) implemented it.

The GAIA release was issued on Thursday, the first day of the two-day International Zero Waste Cities Conference 2023 which is taking place in the Philippines. GAIA organised the conference, and The Business Post is one of the media partners of the event.

The Zero Waste model is one where wastes are segregated from the source before organic management is initiated and materials are recovered. In such a system, all materials and products are ultimately reused, repaired, composted, or recycled, and community well-being is valued above corporate profit.

Several of the 25 cities have also incorporated waste assessment brand audits (WABA). Their baseline studies found that exposing plastic waste is one of the most problematic aspects of their waste streams.

With various government initiatives, such as plastic ban, to reduce the number of carrier bags and plastic straws, challenges in dealing with the volume of single-use plastics (SUPs) render governments to spend millions in transportation costs for landfilling or even incineration.

According to the GAIA release, one of the leading causes of climate change is unmanaged waste. Since the COP27 event held in November 2022, the struggle continues to reach the Global Methane Pledge – which recognises that reducing methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times as potent as CO2, is critical to achieving the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5˚C.

Waste is the third largest source of methane, primarily from landfilling organic waste. Tackling this greenhouse gas globally remains on the agenda of the countries committed to putting forward the Global Waste Initiative 50, which hopes to catalyse both adaptation and mitigation solutions by treating and recycling 50 per cent of the waste produced by 2050.

Both the Global Methane Pledge and the Global Waste Initiative 50 signal how countries are recognising the potential of the Zero Waste model to help meet climate targets affordably and effectively by introducing better waste management policies.

Zero Waste, therefore, is an essential tool for climate adaptation, particularly for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Approaches such as composting to reduce pollution prevent disease vectors and boost soil resilience while also combating floods and droughts that threaten food security, the release said.

Such approaches also create jobs while lowering waste management costs. These and other affordable, fast-acting Zero Waste strategies are vital and should be included in international climate financing to ensure that money is going to communities that are already building grassroots climate solutions, not to polluting waste management projects.

These pressing issues and concerns – from addressing climate challenges to reducing gaps to highlighting impactful initiatives and policies to meet global targets – serve as the focal agenda at this year's International Zero Waste Cities Conference.